digestion

[ dih-jes-chuhn, dahy- ]

noun

1. the process in the alimentary canal by which food is broken up physically, as by the action of the teeth, and chemically, as by the action of enzymes, and converted into a substance suitable for absorption and assimilation into the body.
2. the function or power of digesting food:

   My digestion is bad.

3. the act of digesting or the state of being digested.

digestion

/ dɪˈdʒɛstʃən; daɪ- /

noun

1. the act or process in living organisms of breaking down ingested food material into easily absorbed and assimilated substances by the action of enzymes and other agents peptic
2. mental assimilation, esp of ideas
3. bacteriol the decomposition of sewage by the action of bacteria
4. chem the treatment of material with heat, solvents, chemicals, etc, to cause softening or decomposition

digestion

/ dī-jĕs′chən /

1. The process by which food is broken down into simple chemical compounds that can be absorbed and used as nutrients or eliminated by the body. In most animals, nutrients are obtained from food by the action of digestive enzymes. In humans and other higher vertebrates, digestion takes place mainly in the small intestine. In protists and some invertebrates, digestion occurs by phagocytosis.
2. The decomposition of organic material, such as sewage, by bacteria.

digestion

1. The breaking down of food, which is made up of complex organic molecules (see also organic molecule ), into smaller molecules that the body can absorb and use for maintenance and growth.

Derived Forms

• diˈgestional, adjective

Other Words From

• di·gestion·al adjective
• nondi·gestion noun
• redi·gestion noun
• self-di·gestion noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of digestion¹

1350–1400; Middle English digestioun < Anglo-French, Middle French < Latin dīgestiōn- (stem of dīgestiō ), equivalent to dīgest ( us ) ( digest ) + -iōn- -ion

Word History and Origins

Origin of digestion¹

C14: from Old French, from Latin digestiō a dissolving, digestion

Example Sentences

Escolar is sometimes called the "laxative of the sea" for the effects its fatty acids can have on digestion.

From Salon

Fiber-rich foods such as whole grains, nuts, seeds, beans, fruits and vegetables regulate digestion and nourish beneficial gut bacteria.

From Salon

The combination of nutrients slows down the digestion of carbohydrates and thereby produces a smaller blood sugar spike.

From Salon

Do you often suffer from difficult, heavy digestion or bloating?

From Salon

It aids in muscle repair, digestion, energy and focus.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• absorption
• metabolism